Review: The Black Veldt by Michael Reyes

Jose Carvel is a dirtbag reprobate, but he wants to be a better person. Really, the guy can’t help what he has become. Abandoned at a very young age and abused in every respect, and without a name of his own, Jose struck out on his own as a young teen. He took the name Jose from a trucker, “who didn’t molest me,” and the last name Carvel from a man in Kansas, “who didn’t make much use of the name.” He has little to no memory of his early life and what he does come from nightmares and flashbacks. Jose has spent his life running from the unknown and the compulsion to commit violence.

In his broke down East Side neighborhood, he befriends street kids and feeds stray cats by day, scores cocaine for himself and heroin to sell to his manager and co-workers at the bookstore. At night, he tries to get some words down on paper as an aspiring writer. Drugs, strip clubs, and booze abound in Jose’s life in New York during the Summer of Sam.

Out on the town in New York City, he sees bewildering sights, runs into people who recognize him and call him by other names than his chosen one. On one of his nights of debauchery, Jose sees a familiar girl at the train station where he likes to hang out and watch people. He’s pretty sure he’s seen her before, and when he did, she was committing suicide and in possession of a bag full of photos of missing people from around the country.

When he and Javonka finally connect, he is shown a world of demons and learns that they have dominion over him. He also learns that Javonka is his soul mate, and he will do anything to be with her, even fighting Hell and darkness itself.

I loved this novella; it had the perfect mix of depravity and dirtiness that was the perfect setting and perfect for the time it is set in. Jose isn’t meant to be liked, he does a lot to prove this point, but you still feel for the lot in life he has drawn. I wouldn’t change anything about the length or content of the story, to take anything away would make the story less effective.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the author for providing me a copy of The Black Veldt for review. I also read this book through my own Kindle Unlimited subscription, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

5/5 Stars